Dispensing cabinet



Dec. 8, 1959 v A. J. SCHUPP 2,916,187

DISPENSING CABINET Filed July 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 PRESS '--44 VIII VII/[VIII]! 3/ 7G 3 5a 34 t 54.

'61 Z/ rezi 18:72 u v v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1959 A. J. SCHUPP 2,916,187

DISPENSING CABINET Filed July 18, 1957 N 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l BY Dec. 8, 1959 A. J. SCHUPP DISPENSING CABINET 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1957 ql fr azc/r cfiu v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1959 A. J. SCHUPP 2,916,187

I DISPENSING CABINET Filed July 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I-uKE 4 g7 mx INVENTOR BY I I 1 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent M DISPENSING CABINET Alfred J. Schupp, San Antonio, Tex.

Application July 18, 1957, Serial No. 672,756

7 Claims. (Cl. 221-154) This invention relates to a dispensing cabinet and more particularly to a cabinet for the individual dispensing of toothpicks, straws, or similar elongated obects.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved dispenser of this character characterized by means whereby only a single article may be dispensed from the cabinet, and then must be removed from the grooves holding the article before a second article can be dispensed, thus precluding the indiscriminate dispensing and wasting of the multiplicity of toothpicks or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having a comparative minimum of parts, and which may be readily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning or the like without the use of tools, in compliance with certain State and local laws requiring this.

A still'further object of the invention is the provision ofsuch'a'device characterized by the absence of restricted places in'which dirt or bacteria may be gathered.

.Still another object .of the invention is the provision of .a device characterized by means completely sealing the article containing compartment, precluding the ingress of vermin such as insects or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Further objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features .of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of one form of device'embodying features of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a'bottom plan view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional .view' taken substantially along the line '33 of Figure las viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary enlarged sectional detailed view of certain constructional elements as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device, with the closure slide removed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line '5--5 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--6 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the slide assembly as removed fromthe cabinet, different positions of adjustment being indicated in dotted lines.

, 2,916,187 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 8 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Figure 8 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a constructional detail of the slide mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. v Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention comprises a cabinet struc-. ture generally indicated at 20, which includes side walls 21, and a rear wall 22. The device is provided with bottomside plates 23, which arechannelled, as indicated at 24, for the reception of a bottom slide 25.

A top wall 26 is also provided, which has therein an elongated slot 27, and carries a rotatable fastening member 28, secured in position as by means of a screw 29, the purpose of which slot and fastening member will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

A relatively short front Wall 30 extends upwardly from the bottom of the casing, and terminates at a transverse aperture 31, in which is seated a block 32, having a horizontal plate 33 secured to the top thereof. The block 32 carries'a pair of spaced apart grooves 34, and a transverse channel 35 extending across the top thereof leaving a space between the plate 33 and the top of the block 32. The top of plate 33 has a transverse groove 36 therein, adapted to receive the edge of a vertically slidable transparent plate 37, which seats also in inclined grooves 38 in the interior of side walls 21. The top of plate 37 carries a reinforcing and finger gripping member 39, of a width to fit between the side walls 21, and the panel or plate 37 is adapted to be held in position by the rotatable fastener 28 engaging over the top of the member 39.

The rear wall 22 is provided with an internal guide block 40, having an inclined top surface 41, which extends outwardly over the plate 33, and in alignment, with the inner edge thereof, but spaced slightly therefrom. A vertical slot 42 extends through the rear wall 22, and is aligned with the top slot 27. A slidable plunger 43 is positioned in the slot 42 and extends outwardly through the slot 27 to form an operating head or pressure member 44. The lower end of member 43 is bent at right angles, and extends inwardly of the casing, as shown at 44a, in a position below the bottom of block 32, and inwardly and below the top of front wall 30, all for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. As best shown in Figures 3 and 6 the lower portion of slot 42 below the guide block 40 is open interiorly of the casing.

The lower portion 'of side walls 21 is provided interiorly, adjacent the top of grooves 24 with blocks 45, each of which is provided with a cutaway portion 46, forming journals, for a purposeto be more fully described hereinafter.

The bottom of front wall 30 is provided with a circular recess 50, from which extends a groove 51, which opens interiorly of the front wall 30, and communicates with bore 52 which extends vertically upwardly through the front wall 30 to the top thereof, and is aligned with a recess 53 in the bottom of block 32. An L-shaped pin 54 has its longer leg extending vertically upwardly through the bore 52, and its end engaging in the recess 53, for holding the block 32 against lateral displacement, when the slide 25 is in position. The short leg 55 of the L-shaped member is normally engaged in a groove 56 in the top of slide 25, which groove serves to hold the pin in its uppermost position and in engagement with the recess 53. Conversely when the slide is removed, the pin 54 may also be readily removed, and in consequence the block 32, and its associated plate 33 may be slid forwardly out of the recess 31 to permit ready disassembly of this portion of the device without the use of tools.

The slide 25 is adapted to be held in position as best shown in Figure 11, by means of the ball detent 57 which is seated in a flanged cup 58, and biased bymeans of a spring 59 into engagement with a keeper notch 60 in the bottom of rear wall 22.

The plate 33 is provided with a slide member 65, of U-shaped cross sectional configuration, having one leg 66 sliding on top of the plate 33, and the other leg 67 sliding beneath the plate.

The bight of the U-shaped member 65 has an aperture therethrough through which extends the guide rod 68 having one end embedded in a recess 69 in the rear wall 22, and the other end embedded in a suitable recess 70 in the rear edge of plate 33. The forward edge of upper slide member 66 is forwardly and downwardly inclined as at 71 (see Fig. 3a) to serve as a guide and levelling member for toothpicks or the like contained within the upper compartment defined at its front by the transparent panel 37. The lower leg 67 of member 65 is provided with a pair of spaced apart elongated slots 72, which serve both as guides and stop members for the slide 65, screws 73 secured in plate 33 being extended through the slots 72 to provide the stop means.

It may here be noted that screws 74 pass through suitable apertures in plate 33 to secure the same to block 32.

Fixedly secured to the under side of leg 67 of slide member 65 are a pair of spaced apart dispensing blocks 75, which project outwardly of the block 33 through the grooves or channels 34. The upper side of each member 75 is provided with a dispensing groove 76, the grooves of the two members being transversely aligned, to provide a toothpick receiving channel. The base of the grooves 76 is well below the top of the block 32, so that when a toothpick has fallen into the groove 76, the slide may not be retracted into the machine, in position to receive another toothpick, until the toothpick in the groove 76 is removed.

Each dispensing member 75 is also provided on its upper side with a triangular lug 77, which lugs project upwardly from the tops of members 75 which are a part of and integrally secured to U-shaped member 65, and are when the slide is in its fully extended position substantially aligned with the front edge of top leg or portion 66 of member 65, and adapted to be located, when the slide is in extended position directly below slot 80 which extends entirely through the plate 33. The slot 80 is so dimensioned as to receive a single toothpick, at its lower end, but at its upper portion 81a is of a dimension to receive two toothpicks, when the slide is retracted. In the extended position of the slide, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, the inclined edge 71 of the upper leg 66 of U-shaped member 65 is directly adjacent the top of the slot 80, and serves to force one or more toothpicks into the slot. Retraction of the slide, which is efiected by depression of the push member 44, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, will align the grooves 76 with the bottom of the slot 80, and, permit a single toothpick to fall into the grooves 76 from the slot 80. Release of the push member 44 will then extend the dispensing members 75, in such manner that the toothpick seating in the dispensing grooves 76 is positioned forwardly of the front wall 30, in ready position for removal. As previously pointed out further actuation of the push member 44 will not dispense additional toothpicks, until the toothpick resting in the dispensing grooves is removed, since the abutment of this transversely extending toothpick against the front Wall 30 of the device will prevent full retraction of the dispensing members 75, and consequently no further toothpick may fall through the slot 80. Channels 81 are provided in the under surface of the plate 33 to accommodate the lugs 77 when the slide is extended.

An actuating block 85 is pivotally mounted beneath the dispensing members on an axle 86, the ends of the axle 86 seating in the journals provided by the cutaway portions 46 in the side blocks 45 as previously described.

The actuating block 85 is quadrilateral in form, and tapers upwardly from the axle 86. Embedded in its top surface are the ends of a U-shaped wire member 87, the bight 88 of which engages in a pair of aligned grooves or channels 89 in the under side of dispensing members 75, the arrangement being such that when the member 87 is moved from the full line position of Figure 3 to the dotted line position therein, the dispensing members 75 are retracted to align the groove 76 with the slot to permit the dropping of a toothpick thereinto. Such tilting of the actuating member is effected by the engagement of the portion 44a of slide member 43 with a second U-shaped member 90, having right angularly turned ends 91 which engage in the sides of actuating block 85, the bight of member being set at substantially right angles to the bight 89. Thus downward pressure on actuating slide 44 serves to tilt the block from the full line position in Figure 3 to the dotted line position thereof, and in consequence to retract the dispensing members 75. A coiled spring 92 is wound around axle 86, and has an extending bight portion 93 which extends toward the rear wall 22, and seats against the top of slide 25, the spring 92 serving to bias the block 85 towards the full line position of Figure 3, and hence extend the dispensing members 75 after pressure on the slide member 44 is released. The slide member 43 is provided with an elongated slot 94 at an intermediate point, which is adapted to pass around the rod 68, to permit the free movement of the slide in its groove or slot 42.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The latch member 28 is first rotated, to permit the withdrawal of the transparent plate 37, by means of its finger gripping portion 39, and the space forming the receptacle is filled with toothpicks or similar articles to be dispensed. The plate is then replaced and latched by rotation of the latch member 28 to the position as shown in Figure 1.

Downward pressure on slide member 44, will now cause the plate 44a to engage the U-shaped member 90, to tilt the actuating block 85 to the dotted line position of Figure 3, thus withdrawing the slide member 65, and its associated dispensing members 75, to align the groove 76 with the slot 80, at which time a single toothpick will drop through the slot and into the groove 76. Release of pressure on the member 44 will permit the spring 92 to return the block 85 to the full line position, the bight 88 of U-shaped member 87 extending the dispensing members 75 to place the toothpick contained in groove 76 well forwardly of the machine for easy removal. Removal of the toothpick then renders the device ready for subsequent operation. Obviously as long as the toothpick or similar article remains in the groove 76 the mechanism may not be reactuated, since the transverse extent of the toothpick abutting against the top of block 32 will preclude complete withdrawal of the dispensing members 75, and until such withdrawal is effected no more toothpicks may fall through the slot 80.

When it is desired to disassemble the mechanism for cleaning or the like, the slide 25 may first be removed by forcing the same toward the rear wall 22, releasing the engagement of detent ball 57 with its keeper 60, at which time the L-shaped member 54 may be withdrawn from the bore 52, disengaging the block 32, and its associated plate 33. The block 32 and plate 33 may then he slid forwardly out of the opening 31, releasing the engagement of rod 68 with the slot 94, and the slide 43 may then be withdrawn through the bottom of the device. All of the major components of the device are now readily available for cleansing, it being noted of course that the panel 37 may be readily removed .in the manner previously described. If further disassembly is desired, it is merely necessary to disengage the screws 74 to release the engagement of block 32 and plate 33, while removal of the screws 73 will permit the complete disengagement of member 65 from the plate 33.

By reversing the operation the device may be readily reassembled, and rendered ready for use after filling.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved dispensing device particularly adapted for the individual dispensing of toothpicks, straws or similar articles, which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein before shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

It In a device for the individual dispensing of elongated articles, a container having side, rear and top walls, an intermediate horizontal partition in said container defining an article holding receptacle, a vertically slidable transparent front plate for said receptacle, a removable plate having a transverse slot therein forming the forward portion of said horizontal partition, a U-shaped dispensing slide having upper and lower legs, one on either side of said removable plate, a removable apertured block below said removable plate comprising a portion of a front wall for said container, a fixed front wall below said block, a pair of grooved dispensing members extensible through the apertures in said block secured to the under side of the lower leg of said dispensing slide, said members being retractable to position the grooves in alignment with said slot in said plate to receive a single elongated article, and extensible to position said article in said grooves outwardly of said container for manual removal, said top wall having a slot therein and an actuating slide extending through said slot adapted upon the exertion of pressure thereon to retract said dispensing members.

2. In a device for the individual dispensing of elongated articles, a container having side, rear and top walls, an intermediate horizontal partition in said container defining an article holding receptacle, a vertically slidable transparent front plate for said receptacle, a removable plate having a transverse slot therein forming the forward portion of said horizontal partition, a U-shaped dispensing slide having upper and lower legs, one on either side of said removable plate, a removable apertured block below said removable plate comprising a portion of a front wall for said container, a fixed front wall below said block, a pair of grooved dispensing members extensible through the apertures in said block secured to the under side of the lower leg of said dispensing slide, said members being retractable to position the grooves in alignment with said slot in said plate to receive a single elongated article and extensible to position said article in said grooves outwardly of said container for manual removal, said top wall having a slot therein, an actuating slide extending through said slot adapted upon the exertion of pressure thereon to retract said dispensing members, and spring means for extending said dispensing members upon release of pressure on said actuating slide.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein an actuating block is pivotally mounted below said dispensing slide, said dispensing members are provided with aligned grooves in their under sides, an extension is carried by said block engagable in said grooves, a second extension is carried by said block at right angles to said first extension and said actuating slide is provided with an angularly disposed portion engageable with said second extension to tilt said actuating block about its pivot upon exertion of pressure on the extending end of said actuating slide.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said spring means for extending said dispensing members comprises a coil spring wound about the pivot of said block normally biasing said block to a position to extend said dispensing members. I

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the bottom of the container comprises a removable closure slide, and an extending portion of said coil spring engages the upper surface of said slide.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said front wall is provided with a bore, said apertured removable block is provided with a recess aligned with said bore and said closure slide is provided with a groove, perpendicular to said bore and an L-shaped locking pin has its longer leg extended through said bore into said recess and its short leg engages in said groove in said closure slide to hold said apertured block against displacement when said closure slide is in closed position.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein a rotatable latch is provided on said top wall for holding said transparent front plate in closed position and said closure slide is provided with a spring pressed ball detent engageable in a keeper in the bottom of said rear wall for holding said closure slide in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,996 Pond Aug. 30, 1898 949,524 Crosthwait Feb. 15, 1910 1,137,743 Dickson May 4, 1915 2,732,974 Hedges Jan. 31, 1956 2,752,065 Schupp June 26, 1956 

